The following contains spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, now in theaters.

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, and his ragtag band of misfits face the gargantuan task of trying to save Rocket Raccoon. Sadly, Rocket's been critically injured in an ambush by Will Poulter's Adam Warlock in the opening act. It leads to the heroes trying to find the man behind it all, the powerful High Evolutionary, learning along the way about the sadistic project he ran that actually created Rocket.

Still, as much as it's a trap, Quill is headstrong. No matter what, he wants the data the villain has that can save Rocket by removing the kill switch around his heart. However, this endearing job keeps getting complicated with the chaotic family dynamic and Warlock hunting them. Thankfully, Quill gets everyone on the same page, which leads to an emotional conclusion filled with hope.

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Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Liberates Rocket Raccoon

Rocket looking upset in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

In all the Marvel Cinematic Universe appearances, Rocket's always been angry. And the Guardians finally discover the source of his pain: he was abused by The High Evolutionary and used as a scientific pawn. Sadly, the tyrant would kill all of Rocket's friends, but Rocket chooses to exorcise that trauma in the finale.

After the gang revives Rocket and helps beat The High Evolutionary down, Rocket refuses to kill him. He's no longer that trigger-happy monster, reiterating he's a Guardian of the Galaxy. Instead, they leave the villain amid his exploding base and escape to Knowhere. The team's stunned because Rocket does deserve to punish the goon, but Rocket wants to let go of all the pain and cynicism tied to his "dad." So, he focuses on a better tomorrow, which is why his beloved Lylla told him to do it in a fever dream when he was near death.

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Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Is All About Restarting

Rocket in a cockpit in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3.

And this concept of evolution resonates with Rocket's allies, including Mantis, who wants to take control of her own destiny. She's been Ego's lackey and a soldier for the Guardians. Thus, she wants to travel through the cosmos and discover her identity. And while it's painful seeing her wave goodbye to Drax, it speaks to the freedom she never really had. Nebula also admits she's quitting, opting to boost Knowhere as a sanctuary. She's got friends like Kraglin and Cosmo to aid, and Warlock's redeeming himself with them, too.

They've already taken in kids and animals The High Evolutionary experimented on, so she wants to be the parent Thanos never was to her and Gamora. The team trusts her to lead the rebuild, while she trusts Drax to assist. While she's been annoyed over his goofy antics in the past, she makes it clear he's not a destroyer. The way he handled the kids, he's meant to be a dad. It brings Drax's story full circle, gifting him a second chance after losing his wife and kid to Ronan's forces. Simply put, he and Nebula have found a new family and now feel responsible for it.

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Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Gives Gamora a New Purpose

Gamora reaches for her knife in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3.

All the sentimental changes stem from Gamora helping out on the quest. In the years since Avengers: Endgame, she's been a Ravager, but she admires how the Guardians act for the greater good. Still, this isn't her calling, with the testy Gamora rejoining Starhawk and the Ravagers.

Gamora also never fell in love after getting plucked from her timeline. But before she leaves, she shows an affinity for Quill and what he shared with the past Gamora. She even acknowledges the likes of Nebula and Groot, indicating she's a call away if they ever get desperate enough again to need her. But she wants to roam as a rogue with the Ravagers, and this time, she's got a lot more freedom.

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Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Offers Star-Lord Closure

The Guardians exit their ship in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Many expected Quill to woo Gamora back, but he's actually cool saying goodbye, understanding they're two different people. It's unfair to force her to be his old flame, so he focuses on another kind of love: his lineage. Quill is, ironically, the first Guardian to exit the team, blessing Rocket as leader before returning to Earth to meet his kin. He's avoided his grandpa, Jason, for so long, not because he hated him, but because Jason was there the night Quill's mom died and he got abducted.

Luckily, the man's alive, and they reconcile. He's grateful to have Quill back, and this reunion has been a long time coming. Star-Lord knows he's been compensating, forcing the idea of a family in space. Even Mantis called him out on this coping mechanism, urging him to get closure someday and see what he's been running away from. As Quill reforges this link, director James Gunn ends the film by having Nebula, Groot, Rocket and Drax dancing with the kids on Knowhere.

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Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Is All About Evolution

Star-Lord helps Nebula during a battle in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

The dance sequence that wraps the movie speaks to new beginnings -- the very anchor the Guardians have been based on in the books. There's an even deeper cut with the music as this montage unfolds via Florence + The Machine's "Dog Days Are Over." This song referred to periods of people moving past confusion and instability to more solid ground. Coincidentally, this is how most of the team feels, knowing they want something more than traipsing around the galaxy.

For so long, this defined them because they were all scoundrels before they met. And while the job was fulfilling, they just weren't happy. But now, most of them have a redefined sense of purpose. Admittedly, Rocket and Groot don't mind sticking to the job with a new iteration of Guardians. But as Quill hugs his grandfather and plans to heal from the trauma of the hospital room where his mom died, the dog days are certainly over as he, a departing Mantis, and the new "parents" in Nebula and Drax close this spacefaring chapter.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now in theaters.